Bits adds a Sidecar, bringing a speakeasy atmosphere to Mukilteo

Traci McFarlane has a new recipe for a night out in Mukilteo: Start with dinner at Bits Eatery, then slip next door for craft cocktails and live music in an intimate, speakeasy-style lounge.

McFarlane has opened Sidecar By Bits, an adults-only establishment adjacent to her longtime restaurant, creating two distinct experiences under one ownership.

The new lounge, which opened Oct. 21, combines the atmosphere of a vintage cocktail bar with live entertainment ranging from jazz and blues to classic rock and folk.

Meanwhile, Bits Eatery has undergone a transformation of its own. Previously an adults-only establishment, it now welcomes customers of all ages.

The expansion grew out of McFarlane's desire to create a more intimate setting for the live music that has become a hallmark of her restaurants.

"I had the live music over at Bits, and it was doing really well," she said. "And I just kept thinking it really wasn't the atmosphere I wanted for live music. So I wanted to try to create something that had more of that jazzy feel."

McFarlane has long been attracted to speakeasies, the clandestine drinking establishments associated with Prohibition in the 1920s and early 1930s. But she wanted to add something she believes many modern speakeasies lack: live entertainment.

"I've always loved going to speakeasies and that kind of thing. But most speakeasies don't have live music, so I just kind of wanted to marry the two," she said.

"I wanted to create an atmosphere where people just felt something when they went there."

The result is a lounge with nightclub-style furnishings, fabric-covered surfaces and acoustic treatments designed to let patrons enjoy music without sacrificing conversation.

McFarlane said the acoustics received rave reviews during Sidecar's opening night, when musician Brian James performed with a trio.

"Everybody commented on how the acoustics are so much better here than they are at Bits, and everyone could still have conversations and hear the music," she said.

The opening also exceeded her expectations for attendance. "It was huge," she said.

Sidecar features a full bar with craft cocktails, including traditional pre-Prohibition and Prohibition-era drinks and original creations developed by its bartenders.

McFarlane said most cocktails are priced between $15 and $17, reflecting her philosophy of keeping prices reasonable to encourage repeat business.

"I would rather have volume," she said. "Don't overprice yourself and have them come back and refer you. So I'd rather keep it that way and take less of a margin."

Food offerings are deliberately limited to light snacks, such as cheese and crackers, onion dip and potato chips. McFarlane also plans to introduce caviar served with potato chips.

The idea is to preserve the lounge's atmosphere rather than turn it into another full-service restaurant.

Customers looking for dinner can visit Bits next door, where the menu features artisanal pizzas, salads, homemade soups and popular meatballs.

"I hope people come to Bits and eat dinner, and then come over here and have cocktails and listen to music and relax," McFarlane said.

Live music is currently scheduled Wednesdays and Saturdays, with Fridays a possibility as the business grows.

McFarlane has spent nearly 30 years booking live entertainment, and has relationships with musicians who regularly perform at her establishments.

Besides Brian James, among the performers she mentioned are the Battista Brothers, Nicholas Russell and Jon Bayless, a former bass player for Heart.

"I feel very blessed in that I've got some of the best of the best," she said. "And it's also really nice because they're very loyal to me, and I keep a lot of them on rotation."

Sidecar, at 11601 Harbour Pointe Blvd., is open from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. McFarlane said she may extend weekend hours to midnight if customer demand warrants it.

She believes the lounge could fill a gap in Mukilteo's nightlife, particularly for people looking for a late-night cocktail after an evening in Seattle.

McFarlane is no newcomer to Mukilteo's restaurant scene.

She opened Piazza's Pasta to Go Go in 1998 in the space now occupied by Red Cork Bistro near QFC. She later transformed the business into Piazza's Wine Bar, which she owned for 14 years.

She also spent time managing wineries in Walla Walla and Woodinville before returning to the restaurant business.

She opened Bits in the former Scotsman location about seven months before the COVID-19 pandemic began, inheriting a space with a history as a neighborhood gathering place. Before the Scotsman, it was Wine 101.

Although McFarlane still loves cooking and entertaining, she said her interests have evolved.

"I love cooking, but now I don't want to cook anymore," she said. "I just want to provide cool places for people to hang out."

That philosophy is reflected in Sidecar, where the focus is as much on atmosphere and the overall experience as on what is served.

McFarlane has already received inquiries about renting the lounge for private gatherings, including from Boeing employees. She is considering the possibility but wants to establish a better understanding of the business before setting rental prices.

For now, her attention is on building an audience for the new establishment while giving families a place to gather next door.

And if her opening-night crowd is any indication, there may be plenty of Mukilteo residents eager to take the new Sidecar for a spin.